The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will soon carry out an independent survey to determine the satisfaction levels of Indiaâ€™s 13 lakh troops on the quality of rations supplied to them in the field.

For the purpose, the MoD will rope in the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) to suggest alteration in rations, depending on the troopsâ€™ nutritional requirements.

The MoD gave this assurance in an Action Taken Note (ATN) to Parliamentâ€™s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which was however unhappy that the study had not yet been carried out despite the supply chain management of rations in the Indian Army being examined by it in 2011. The PAC presented the ATN in Parliament this month.

â€œThe (Defence) Ministry is considering to undertake independent survey by the ICMR and DIPAS for determining the satisfaction level of the troops and to suggest alteration in rations depending on nutritional requirements, development of food technology and preference of troops,â€ the MoD said in its ATN.

â€œThe Ministry has asked ICMR whether it would like to undertake the study this year on satisfaction levels,â€ it said. The MoD also assured the PAC that the defence food specifications are reviewed continuously and are revised through a Technical Standardisation Committee, which meets annually.

The PAC, however, regretted that the survey â€œis still under consideration of the ministry, though assurance to that effect was given in 2011 when the subject was under examination of the committee.â€

Deprecating the â€œinordinateâ€ delay, the PAC asked the MoD to initiate urgent measures for undertaking the proposed survey without any further delay to gauge the satisfaction levels of the troops taking into consideration their â€œcalorific, nutritional and conditionalâ€ requirements.

The PAC had, in 2011 report, noted that the DIPAS study carried out between 2001 and 2005 had revealed that satisfaction level of troops regarding quality, quantity and taste of rations in general was â€œvery lowâ€ and in particular with respect to the quality of meet and fresh vegetables. It also noted that 10 of the 50 samples of ration supplied to the troops posted in Jammu and Kashmir were â€œsub-standardâ€ and of â€œpoorâ€ quality.

For example, Many find Maggi Noodles is God sent. Quick to prepare. Easy to eat. And with artificial flavours in small additional packets inside, what could be better?

And it is very popular with the troops even though it is not a sanctioned ration and they buy it from the Unit Run Canteen.

Therefore, a very balanced view has to be taken as to what troops 'like' and what is the nutrition value.

Quality and taste of rations that is issued is not up to the mark since they are not transported correctly and instead in a haphazard manner thereby bruising the vegetables, rather old stock from the mandis are bought by the Contractor and then issued by the Supply Depot and so on. The rates that are tendered are also low and hence the Contractors supply items which are not prime just to ensure that they make some profits too!

For example, Many find Maggi Noodles is God sent. Quick to prepare. Easy to eat. And with artificial flavours in small additional packets inside, what could be better?

And it is very popular with the troops even though it is not a sanctioned ration and they buy it from the Unit Run Canteen.

Therefore, a very balanced view has to be taken as to what troops 'like' and what is the nutrition value.

Quality and taste of rations that is issued is not up to the mark since they are not transported correctly and instead in a haphazard manner thereby bruising the vegetables, rather old stock from the mandis are bought by the Contractor and then issued by the Supply Depot and so on. The rates that are tendered are also low and hence the Contractors supply items which are not prime just to ensure that they make some profits too!

And there are many other reasons too!

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Why did not the general revolt due to those reasons when in service ??

Why did not the general revolt due to those reasons when in service ??

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Revolt?

Is that what you feel an army person should do?

Are you Jayprakash Narayan asking the Army to revolt?

How do you know what I did and did not?

Go ask Ferozpur Cantt and Bengal Area and you will know what I did!

Are you aware of the SRS?

Are you aware of all the intricacies of Rejecting rations and the methodology of doing so, to include ordering Risk and Expense to be borne by the Contractor thereof and how he manipulates the market and civil Govt agencies so much so that you are forced to give substitutes that may have calorific value, but no satisfaction to taste or morale?

Trotting out baikatha stuff like lists is not adequate.

You apparently have no idea of the rationing and supply process!

By the way, do list out the scale and items and specification of fresh, dry and meat and also give us the tendering process and the rejection of ration and putting at the risk of the Contractor and what happens thereof!

Quality and taste of rations that is issued is not up to the mark since they are not transported correctly and instead in a haphazard manner thereby bruising the vegetables, rather old stock from the mandis are bought by the Contractor and then issued by the Supply Depot and so on.